Armstrong Teasdale, a law firm with offices across the U.S. and in China, proudly announces that it received the highest possible score on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality. This is the second year in a row that Armstrong Teasdale has been ranked. The survey is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an arm of the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the United States.

“We are very pleased that we earned a perfect score for the second consecutive year,” said John Beulick, managing partner at Armstrong Teasdale. “Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee is dedicated to fostering a supportive work environment at the firm. Through the efforts of that committee and others, we are continuously looking for ways to further strengthen our inclusion initiatives.”

Armstrong Teasdale joins the ranks of 517 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks on the 15th annual scorecard.

“I am so proud of our firm for receiving this amazing honor once again,” said Jovita Foster, partner and chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “It’s great to be a part of a law firm that really values inclusion and that understands the importance of engaging in diversity initiatives and workplace equality for all of our employees each and every day.”

The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including nondiscrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. Armstrong Teasdale’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

“Through 15 editions of the annual Corporate Equality Index, major private sector employers have demonstrated over and over that inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it makes for a stronger, more successful business,” said Deena Fidas, Director of HRC’s Workplace Equality Program. “From centuries-old companies to those that have existed for just a few years, major employers have adopted LGBT-inclusive policies and benefits at rates that continue to outpace lawmakers and lead the way forward.”